A new partnership could bring reusable suborbital flights, microgravity research and high-speed aerospace testing to Cornwall.
Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore establishing the DASH UK service at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The proposed service would use Dawn’s Aurora spaceplane, which takes off and lands on a conventional runway rather than requiring a traditional rocket launch.
Aurora is designed to reach altitudes of up to 100km and speeds above Mach 3.7. It could carry payloads of up to 15kg, offer more than two minutes of microgravity and be ready for another flight in as little as four hours.
From Newquay runway to near-space research
The organisations will now look at the operational, regulatory and commercial requirements for making DASH UK a routine service. Potential uses include scientific and atmospheric research, technology demonstrations, defence missions and high-speed flight testing.
The plan builds on Spaceport Cornwall’s position as the UK’s first licensed spaceport, alongside Cornwall Airport Newquay’s long runway and existing aviation and military operating environment. Dawn says Aurora has completed 64 test flights, with its full-performance vehicle scheduled to begin flying in 2027.
The agreement is also intended to support a wider air and space ecosystem in Cornwall, bringing together aerospace, space and technology organisations while helping attract investment and high-value research and development.
Why it matters for Britain
If the service goes ahead, Newquay could give UK researchers and technology companies more regular access to near-space conditions. The project may also support skilled jobs, investment and aerospace development in Cornwall and across the UK.
